Chemoprevention of colorectal cancer: Slow, steady progress

In population-based observational studies, people had lower rates of colorectal cancer if they were taking various agents, including nonsteroiclal anti-inflammatory drugs, calcium, and folate. In placebo-controlled trials in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and in patients with sporadic, colon adenomas, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduced the rates of adenomas, and there is a biologic rationale that they would be effective in reducing colorectal cancer as well. Randomized trials of chemopreventive agents are underway in the genera population.